Conferences

The annual conference of the Arizona Science Teachers Association, Translating Science in the 21st Century was held on October 7 - 8, 2011. Over 300 science educators shared ideas and worked together to advocate standards-based science teaching and learning for all of Arizona's children. Attendees had over 80 one-hour and three-hour workshop to choose from with a focus on literacy, innovation, technology and high quality teaching.  Many of the workshops were hands-on and lead by other classroom teachers. The attendees also explored hundreds of science classroom resources by visiting exhibitors in more than 50 booths.

Keynote Speakers

Friday Keynote: Joyce Schaffer

Joyce received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Goshen College in Goshen, Indiana and her Master of Science in Nursing was obtained from University of Phoenix.

She began her nursing career at Goshen General Hospital in Goshen, IN and transitioned to Scottsdale Healthcare where she has been employed for the last 21years. Joyce's responsibilities have included Primary care for ortho/neuro and oncology patients; Nursing Supervisor; Administrative Representative for Shea campus; RN Case Manager; Cancer Care Coordinator; Clinical Trial Infusion Nurse. Presently Joyce is working as Patient Care Coordinator for the oncology clinical trials department at the Virginia G. Piper Cancer Center. Her role is to provide education to physicians and individuals with cancer which did not respond to standard therapy regarding how and when clinical trials can play a vital role in their quality and quantity of life. The best part of her job is having the ability to provide hope for individuals who feel that all hope is gone in their cancer journey.

Saturday Keynote: Diandra Leslie-Pelecky
Photo Credit: Sarah Pfeiffer

A group of racecars piloted by the best drivers in NASCAR are turning a corner. Without warning, one of the cars suddenly hits the outside wall. There were no engine failures, no flat tires, and none of the cars touched...so what happened?

This is the question that sparked physics professor Diandra Leslie-Pelecky's interest in NASCAR. What she thought would be a ten-minute search on the web turned into a book The Physics of NASCAR, that takes NASCAR (and science) fans behind the scenes at top race shops, onto the asphalt at Texas Motor Speedway and into the garage with the Gillett Evernham Motorsports No. 19 car and its crew.

On Saturday, October 8, 2011 during the ASTA Conference, Dr. Leslie-Pelecky guided the audience through understanding what it takes to make racecars faster and safer, and why driving a stock car is much harder than you might think. Using examples of current NASCAR science, she addressed topics such as why drivers constantly beg their crew chiefs to make their cars turn better, why turning corners throws all the crew chief's hard work off balance, why designing tires is such a challenge, and how something as simple as leaving an oil-tank lid slightly askew could lead to a competitive advantage. In everyday language, she'll explained why your driver is - or isn't - the one taking the checkered flag.

View Friday and Saturday's ASTA Conference program that was based upon the Conference Strands.

During the conference, exhibitors provided raffle items that were given away.  ASTA is grateful to the exhibitors who provided items.  In addition, ASTA held a 50/50 raffle with proceeds going to Cancer Research and ASTA Pre-Service Programs.  A lucky member won the 50/50 raffle on Saturday.